Former WWE ring boy recalls the sexual misconduct he endured while working for the company back in the '80s and '90s Jan 9, 2011 - 10:21 AM

Former WWE ring boy Tom Cole, 40, spoke with Mike Mooneyham of the Charleston Post and Courier. He recalled former ring announcer Mel Phillips having an unhealthy fascination with feet. "When you’re 12 or 13 years old and you think this guy is wrestling with you, and then he grabs your foot, maybe part of you doesn’t want to believe it or part of you wants to block it out," Cole said. "I just didn’t have an answer for it. Who would have told you at that age that some guy wants to play with your feet?"

Cole also recalled turning down former WWE employee Terry Garvin's sexual advances. He stated that he spent a night freezing in a van after doing so. "“Listen Terry, I came from nothing and I can go back to having nothing,” Cole recalled telling Garvin. “If this is what this job entails, then I don’t necessarily need the job. And I didn't have the job after that." To read the full story, visit PostAndCourier.com.

Powell's POV: Cole also stated that Pat Patterson was openly gay and "didn't have anything to do with kids." For those who aren't familiar with the WWE sex scandal from the early '90s, this is a good opportunity to catch up on the story. Cole eventually received an undisclosed settlement, and Phillips and Garvin were terminated by WWE.

Oddly enough, WWE opted to have ring announcer Justin Roberts dress like Phillips and actually acknowledged him by name during the Old School edition of WWE Raw. The story has a happy ending, though, as Cole also discussed how he's moved on with his life and is happily married.

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